1 8 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



inside several rocks and islands, and we grappled our way 

 close along the land until we came to Riff Koll, when it 

 began to blow and snow. The ice set on to the land, and we 

 had a very close shave between two high rocks, which gave 

 us barely room for the ship to pass. We got past the rocks, 

 and the place then opened into a wider space. We made 

 fast to the land floe a few miles from a settlement. The 

 natives came off in their sledges to barter, and the Governor 

 visited the captain, with whom he had been long acquainted. 

 We were glad that we had got into such snug quarters, 

 though the ice was piled over the low rocks on the out- 

 side, and we were nicely landlocked. The natives brought a 

 violin, and the 'tween decks were cleared away for dancing. 

 The females are great dancers, and are not fatigued after 

 ten or twelve hours' enjoyment of such exercise. The 

 few hours they remained on board passed very merrily. 

 Next morning the wind and weather changed. We cast off 

 from the land floe, and bade adieu to our friends. One 

 boat was sent ahead to look out for rocks, and the others 

 assisted the ship by towing, the wind being light. 



Getting outside we had more wind, but found ourselves 

 among some loose floes to the north and west. A whale 

 was sighted from the crow's nest. All hands were called 

 and chase given. One of the boats got fast to her, and 

 in four hours she was dead and alongside our ship. 

 This was our first whale. We had no ship in company, and 

 we thought we were going to be very fortunate, as we do 

 not care for too many to be about on fishing grounds. 

 The following day we gave chase to several whales, but a 

 lot of young ice surrounding us we did not succeed in 

 getting fast to any/ One was fired at but missed, which 

 very much displeased the captain. Five more vessels made 

 their appearance to the southward, and the ice opening 

 towards the northward, we made sail for the island of Disco. 

 This is a noted place for whales when the ice lies favour- 



